ASHLEY
RICHARDSON
One
of the most interesting aspects of my role as Editor of this newsletter
is interviewing people who have led really interesting lives, which have
not only involved their careers with BCBSM, but other ventures they have
pursued.
Such
a person is Ashley Richardson who has lived and is still living a
remarkable existence. She
was born and raised in Courtland, Virgina, which is located not far from
the North Carolina border. She
is now an accomplished actress and she attributes her ability to
perform, in part to her family during childhood where the stage was set
for much humor and nurturing by what her sisters imparted to her.
After
graduating from high school, she continued her education at Hampton
University where she graduated as a Registered Nurse.
It was the early 50’s and heeding the advice from her father
who felt she could be more successful in her career farther north, so
she moved to New Jersey.
Not
long after … she enlisted in the Army where she was accepted and
completed Officer Training School She
had a successful military career and honorably discharged with the rank
of Captain.
After
locating in Michigan, Ashley continued her nursing career having been
employed at Ford Motor Company as an Occupational Health Nurse and in
Occupational Health Services at Chrysler Corporation.
She later joined BCBSM in 1983 from which she retired.
Before
and since retirement she became more involved in theater, especially
acting, and she has received rave revues in several productions in which
she has performed. She has
also appeared in several films, commercials and TV pilots.
She is currently working in a movie entitled “Laylas Girl”.
Ashley
lives in Detroit and is along time community supporter. She devotes time to volunteering as a church service worker
and in the medical preventative service field.
Her hobbies include music appreciation and reading (especially
cultural history).
She
has been married for 43 years and is the proud mother of two children
– Dwayne and Cherita – and one grandchild.
Her husband, Leroy is restricted by a serious medical condition.
She
says at first theatre was just a hobby, but now she performs by
believing she must be creative and adapt to a role which she develops
within herself.
One
of her favorite sayings is: “THERE
IS HEALING IN HUMOR” and she certainly has her own way of
showing it in most everything she does.
